Champagne Cupcakes with Grapefruit Curd….and NEWS!

So- Guess what? I’M ENGAGED!!! I really wanted to wait until the end of the post to announce that but I am reallly bad at holding things in. Ask my new Fiancé (ok that is SO weird to say,) and he’ll tell you how I announced the news to every random person we passed on the street that entire day. I just get too excited about things and I can’t wait to tell! That is why the first thing I did when I got back to NYC from San Francisco Monday was bake these cupcakes so I could announce this ASAP.

So yeah, could my weekend in California have been any better? I am beyond thrilled. Now I no longer have to hide the fact that I’ve had a wedding Pintrest page for the past 6 months. (Shhhh don’t tell!) I also may or may not have created a registry yesterday (5 days post engagement,) just so I could add one lone item to it. A KitchenAid Stand Mixer. Sigh…..I have been dreaming about one for way too long. I am perfectly aware that I won’t be getting it for months (we haven’t even set a date yet,) but it was just the fact that I put it out there. Get me? I can’t wait for the major kitchen supply upgrade- woohoo!!! (Yeah I should probably register for some champagne flutes, I definitely drank the champagne in the above picture in a wine glass- oops!)

So here is the short and sweet proposal story: Thursday we were in San Francisco planning to drive down to San Jose to visit Andy’s brother via Los Altos, CA which is where he grew up. He had said he wanted to show me some special landmarks along the way that were significant in his childhood, (the house he grew up in, old school etc.) The drive was beautiful and scenic and it was a great morning!

Around 2 PM though, we ate a huge Mexican lunch and I was laden with food coma. Andy begged me to perk up as there were only two more spots he wanted to show me. I was being a brat. I just wanted to stay in the car and nap and had no energy to walk around. But, as Andy was digging around the trunk for his sweater (and my ring apparantley,) I started to feel bad and figured I may as well be a good sport and go for the walk.

And there in the beautiful redwood forest where Andy used to play as a kid, in a secluded spot in the shade of a tree, he sweetly and romantically popped the question (on one knee of course.) He says I had a frozen blank expression for a good 10 seconds before I said “No way really?!!!” and then of course “YES!” Hooray!

Ok- that’s that. I promise to not be super annoying and only post about wedding things the next year Ok I’ll try to not do that. PS- didn’t he do a good job on the ring!? That was all him- I didn’t have any input but I really love it. Especially since he made it from his Mom’s engagement and wedding rings, so sentimental.:)

Oh yeah- and these cupcakes are amazing. Champagne in the cake and frosting and a pink grapefruit curd to add a bit of tartness. They were the perfect thing to enjoy with my sisters as they stopped by when I got home. Enjoy!

Combine first 5 ingredients in the top of a double boiler, stirring well with a whisk. Cook over simmering water until thick (about 10 minutes), stirring constantly. Strain juice mixture through a fine sieve into a bowl; discard solids. Add butter, stirring well with a whisk. Cool completely.

For the Frosting:

Place 1 cup of champagne in a small saucepan. Simmer over medium-high heat until reduced to 2 tablespoons. Transfer to a small bowl or condiment cup and allow to cool.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, cream softened butter and powdered sugar together. Once the frosting is thick and fluffy, pour in the reduced 2 tbsp. champagne plus 1 tbsp. champagne from the bottle and mix well.

With a small knife carve a cone shaped wedge out of the top of each cupcake. Slice off the very top part to put back over the filling. Spoon a tablespoon of curd into each cupcake, and replace the cake-top.

Frost the cream-filled cupcakes and decorate!

Notes

I like lots of frosting on cupcakes- if you do as well, you may want to make a double batch (like I did.)

I am so happy for you girl-Congrats. This is such a wonderful time in your life and you will have so many more enjoyable moments ahead!I have had champagne cupcakes before but you have really amped them up with that curd inside. I have saved the recipe to make for a special occasion.

I came to congratulate you on winning the Best New Blog award from Foodbuzz. But OMG!! Congratulations on your engagement! It’s such a beautiful story and I wish you the best in your new life and marriage :) The ring is gorgeous and so is the story behind it. The cupcakes looks delish!

I was just making my way around to give you a big congrats on winning best new blog (well deserved) when I saw the bigger news about the engagement! Congratulations again! Wow.. now you’ll be in full wedding mode and wedding cake mode I’m sure. I’m so happy for you and wish you all the best with your new fiance! :) PS… these cupcakes are superb! They look like little wedding cakes and with the champagne… just perfect for the occasion. Hope you popped some extra bubbly to toast all the good news too. ~ Ramona

That’s so excitIng! Love the ring and champagne cupcakes — how appropriate! Congrats to you and the fiancé (are you having fun saying that?) and best of luck in your planning! The hardest decision for me was the cake…. Like it was really bad. I was like one of those crazy indecisive “I’ve tried on over 100 dresses” girls from say yes to the dress, except with cakes. Pinteresting Cakes. Milllions of cakes. Finally I found the one, though! :)

Just found your blog thru foodbuzz and I love it. Like you, I live in nyc, started my blog early this year and also just got engaged! In fact, I also similarly started a pinterest wedding page about 4 months or so before my fiance popped the question, hehe. A girl’s gotta plan, right? Anyway, I found all these coincidences very odd and will be sure to follow your blog now :)

These look amazing! I just found your blog and love it. I also have a food blog (aubongouter.com) and also got engaged recently and I had to comment because my ring looks exactly like yours! Congrats :)

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